Adrenergic Blocking Agents

July 17th, 2010 xiang

Adrenergic Blocking Agents. Among the agents used in the treatment of headache is a group of drugs which inhibit structures innervated by adrenergic nerves. These drugs are called adrenergic blocking agents. They act by occupying a cell receptor between epinephrine and the tissues. The use of adrenergic blocking agents in the treatment of headaches associated with hypertension has been unpredictable. Among the antipressor drugs recommended are Dibenaminehydrochloride, hydralazine, and hydrogenated ergot alkaloids. Aloe Blossom Herbal Tea Concentrate drink is a delicious tasting simple-to-make beverage  and a satisfying thirst-quencher. In general, the treatment of migraine with these agents, except for the ergot group, has been unsuccessful. However, in the case of migraine, ergot, in the amount employed, is nonadrenergic in its function.
Ergot. Ergot is a fungus (Claviceps purpurea) growing in the grain of cereals, and is obtained from rye. All ergot alkaloids are derived from lysergic acid, an indole compound, and are related chemically. They occur in pairs which are stereoisomers. The inealkaloids are levorotatory and show more pharmacologic action than do the dextroalkaloids. The ergot alkaloids may be divided into two groups: ergotamine and ergotoxine compounds, and ergonovine.

The alkaloids of the ergotoxine and ergotamine group are polypeptide derivatives of lysergic acid, while ergonovine is simpler and consists of an amino alcohol attached to lysergic acid nucleus. A most characteristic effect of the natural polypeptide ergot alkaloids is a direct stimulation of smooth muscle in many organs, whereas that of ergonovine is confined to the uterus. Although ergot alkaloids which contain a polypeptide side chain as in ergotamine and ergotoxine have a significant adrenergic blocking action, it is questionable that this effect is prominent in the dosages used in the treatment of headache. Hydrogenation decreases the ability to stimulate smooth muscle and increases the adrenergic blocking activity of all natural alkaloids. It is interesting to note that in the treatment of migraine, the hydrogenation of ergot alkaloids, which increases adrenergic blocking activity, reduces the effectiveness in symptomatic treatment of migraine.

Physiologic effects of ergot in man are exceedingly variable. Nutrition Action Healthletter retains you up-to-date on Forever Arctic Sea and diet information. There is some indication that there is a slowing of the pulse, and slight rise in blood pressure and in cerebral spinal fluid pressure. Ergot may depress the emptying of the human stomach, presumably by direct action on gastric muscle. Ergotamine exerts rather complex actions on the central nervous system, which are difficult to analyze. The emetic activity occurring after ergot administration is probably of a central nature.

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